Tag: bible

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forgiveness heart Jesus peace

Let the Light In

Recent, beautiful, cool, sunny day with Batman, our youngest son and me working on clearing a spot for some family sporting activities!

“For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith.

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.

But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses.” — Mark 11:23-26, KJV

Peach here: Reading these very familiar verses this morning got me to thinking. About forgiveness. Our mind is a funny thing. I have discovered that in my mind, (and I don’t think I’m alone) that I will tuck away, without even being conscious of it, little stacks of names that I need to forgive. I think I have forgiven them, but on occasion, when I inadvertently ‘bump into’ one of those names, I realize, there’s a stench, a lingering grudge, a savored offense, possibly, for some super special names, maybe even a touch of bitterness.

I quickly make the choice when this occurs, by faith, to purposefully forgive, and move on, to realize the grace I’ve freely received and also need to freely give. Not because the people who I need to forgive are worth it. That may or may not be the case. But, because Jesus and what HE has done for me, HE is worth it! And I’m worth that choice, too!

Forgiveness absolutely lightens our load. Unclogs the arteries of our hearts. It let’s His Sonshine into our hearts and minds.

It’s a choice. A decision. An act of faith. And when we choose it, it sets us free. sometimes, we have to choose, and decide, and choose again and again, (because it may come back to our remembrance every once in awhile).

But, it is always a choice worth making. A choice that we honor Jesus when we do so. Making this choice, this decision positions ourselves for freedom, for His light and peace, hope and joy to have room to move in our hearts.

It doesn’t matter the triviality or the bitter pain of the offense, when we grasp them, and hold onto them, they become poison to us.

We forgive because He forgave us. We forgive because keeping the hurt turns to bitterness, and causes unnecessary woundedness to take up space in our hearts, where creativity and hope are meant to reside.

Recently we’ve been working as a family to clear some space on a lot, knocking down the underbrush and taking out a few extra trees, to make some more open space.

Now there’s room to run and play, and see everything in all directions.

“Above every charge keep thy heart, For out of it [are] the outgoings of life” — Proverbs 4:23, YLT.

And that’s what our hearts need. Be gracious, because Jesus is, and we are His, and it results in a healthy heart and soul.

Today, I’ve been taking inventory, and letting the Holy Spirit guide me through my stacks, to make sure I throw them out, after CHOOSING to FORGIVE!

“So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, IF you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples.

And you WILL KNOW the Truth, and the Truth WILL set you free.” — John 8:31-32, KJV.

Borrowed from our oldest son. Free indeed.

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Faith family God good Hope Jesus joy Life retirement

The Joy of the Lord is Your STRENGTH – Tuesdays are for Thinking #3

My Sugar Boogas!!

Peach says:

Some thoughts. We lost my Dad on 1 January of this year. It hits me in sharp moments, out of the blue. Like a sneak attack. 💔

There’s been lots of joy this year as well. Batman’s first year of retirement! 🥰❤️🎉🎉👏🏻👏🏻 First full year of SEVEN grandchildren!! 😍🤗 And more good and more hard, and unexpected things besides.

You know, life is like that. It’s not all one thing, right? It’s not just one emotion. it’s processes and pain, and joy and excitement, hope and forgiveness.

I’ve seen in those I love, and experienced myself, grief like I never expected. I’ve seen and experienced wonderful moments of love, and joy, faith and hope right in the middle of it all. Thank God for the WONDER and the GOOD right in the middle of it all, even in the pain.

God is SO faithful, and I do not say that lightly. He really, truly is. The good thing about being in your 50s and having been walking with Jesus for almost 29 years is you learn a lot, hopefully! (though I had a L-O-N-G way to go, and STILL do have a long way to go! 😂😂). But, you do, you learn that nothing but Jesus is permanent. Everything else is learning and moving and loving and living and dying and beginning, and ending and enduring and outlasting, and forgiving and making new ways, it’s a LOT of moving pieces. And the Lord is with us through it all. Making us able. Helping us do the right thing. To have His heart. To believe in and hope for the best, once more again. To be flexible. To give, because it’s right. To surrender. To take that first step or maybe make that first move. To get up and go again. To savor the good today, and shake off the dust from the bad yesterday. And if today is bad, you can shake it off, too, and tomorrow, walk in the new. Jesus has already gone ahead of You, and He has provision for you there! And He’s right here with you in the now, to help you in the going.

We don’t wait to be happy, (and yes, I agree, happiness and joy are different, but that’s for another post!) we choose the happy on the way and in the process, or else we will never be happy. Sometimes we forget this, and that’s ok, as long as we stick with Jesus and have a few Godly, Jesus loving people around us, to just remind us by how they live, that we get to choose. Happy is possible. On the way.

And all of that is to say today I thought about Nehemiah 8:10 “…the Joy of the Lord is your Strength”, and Y’all it’s no joke. I wanted to boil it down for you, but of course I couldn’t quite get there. (It’s SO BIG, Y’all!! 🤗) Trust me, this IS the short version! 😂 But, the full verse 10 is this —> “Then he said unto them, Go your way, eat the fat, and drink the sweet, and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared: for this day is holy unto our Lord: NEITHER BE YE SORRY; for the JOY of the Lord IS YOUR STRENGTH.”

Really you need verses 9-11 to really appreciate it…but His joy, is our STRENGTH…joy is that everlasting, enduring quality we are able to have through our confidence in Him, His character, His presence, His love for us, in spite of temporary conditions, (and everything on this side of Heaven is temporary).

The love of a father and son is a joy to behold!

He makes us able to choose joy, and that will give us great strength, like a fortress for us, that makes us untouchable, where it really counts, in our spirit.

To ‘be not sorry’, was the priests urging the people not to grieve so much that they wore grooves into their face, they had grieved, and that was good and necessary, but don’t stay there. Choose to celebrate, to eat the best, drink the sweet, send good things to those who weren’t established and therefore didn’t have the same wherewithal, because ‘this day is holy to the Lord.’

And so the people did. Because they understood they were God’s people and He loved them, and He had a Good way for them to live. And now that they knew this, (they had just learned how badly they had broken God’s laws their entire lives) they would now be learning how to live a NEW way, (well, new to them), walking with Him. And that was something to celebrate! Not grieve for the wrong they had done, so much so that they couldn’t enjoy the newness of life WITH Him.

We sometimes have to grieve, then we let it go. Then we celebrate. The life that’s still here. That’s new every day. All the time. A gift. And share. Share with those that aren’t established in this good news. The JOY of the Lord is your STRENGTH.

I think I’d like us to talk about the difference between happiness and joy in a future exploration! Percolating!

We really appreciate y’all coming by to visit! We always hope to have something entertaining, thought provoking, or uplifting for you here!

Peace and love, Y’all! Peace and love!

Peach

Categories
Easter Faith forgiveness God grace Hope Jesus Love

Day 3 He is Risen

Matthew 28: 1 – 6

1 In the end of the sabbath, as it began to dawn toward the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalene and the other Mary to see the sepulchre.

2 And behold, there was a great earthquake: for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.

3 His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:

4 And for fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men.

5 And the angel answered and said unto the women, Fear not ye: for I know that ye seek Jesus, which was crucified.

6 He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

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bible Easter faith jealousy Resurrection worship

Thoughts of Easter

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.” — Isaiah 53:3

Peach says:

He’s still despised today. We still hide from Him. We turn our backs. We try to approach life intellectually, so as to show we are more sophisticated than the theology of Christ needing to die for us, to be pierced and crucified, to be buried and rise again, that we may have fellowship with Him and The Father forever through the Holy Spirit.

Paul said “We preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and the Greeks foolishness.’ — 1 Corinthians 1:23

I always look for Easter to speak to me, I seek for different angles to think about it and meditate on it, let it saturate me and become more real to me. I don’t ever want it to be stale to me.

This year it’s been without question Isaiah 53, and Mathew’s account in the Gospels.

I’d like us to think a little more about Judas this Easter. Because it’s important in these days when no one escapes unscathed by betrayal, and we grow in danger of ‘the love of many’ growing cold because of offense. Jesus was not immune to this. Every disciple fled. Every. John did come back. But in the Garden, they fled. They slept when He needed them to pray. They ran when He was taken. Cut and run. And He still loved them. He totally forgave them.

And Judas. Smh. Selling Him out. Really? Kissing Him as the sign that He was the One they should take. So bitterly ugly. So painful. Jesus knew it was coming. And that it was coming through His friend, and that His friend had really chosen not to be His friend.

When I was reading Matthew 26 tonight, I realized Judas was disgusted and JEALOUS. How sad. Tragic really. He had a front row seat to the greatest show on earth, and Judas’ response is ‘Who does he think he is?’ And Judas makes the decision right then and there, ‘What will you give me if I give him to you?’. It seems to me to be completely ego and pride fueled jealousy. I always thought of Judas as a thief and motivated by greed, but tonight it hit me differently.

Because we all get hurt by jealousy. It’s sad really. No one is immune. And Jesus feels that pain with us.

I’m going to put the part that hit me here for you to pick up on it, see if it speaks to you like it did me.

“Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 THERE CAME TO UNTO HIM A WOMAN HAVING AN ALABASTER BOX OF VERY PRECIOUS OINTMENT, AND POURED IT ON HIS HEAD, as he sat at meat.

8 BUT WHEN HIS DISCIPLES SAW IT, THEY HAD INDIGNATION, SAYING, TO WHAT PURPOSE IS THIS WASTE?

9 FOR THIS OINTMENT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR MUCH, AND GIVEN TO THE POOR.

10 When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, WHY TROUBLE YE THE WOMAN? FOR SHE HATH WROUGHT A GOOD WORK UPON ME.

11 FOR YE HAVE THE POOR ALWAYS WITH YOU; BUT ME YE HAVE NOT ALWAYS.

12 FOR in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, SHE DID IT FOR MY BURIAL.

13 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

14 THEN ONE OF THE TWELVE, CALLED JUDAS ISCARIOT, WENT UNTO THE CHIEF PRIESTS,

15 AND SAID UNTO THEM, ‘WHAT WILL YE GIVE ME, AND I WILL DELIVER HIM UNTO YOU? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.” — Matthew 26:7-15

See how through the bountiful, luxurious worship by that woman, of Jesus, her spirit responds to to the Holy Spirit’s prompting? Holy Spirit inspired worship bypasses our mind and what we know, and goes straight to our spirit, where we know something, and we might not can explain it, but WE KNOW IT. And when we act on it, it’s beautiful, and powerful and pleasing to the Lord, and along with that may appear senseless to others, but do it anyway!

There will likely be a Judas around to be jealous and hate it blindly, not even understanding what’s motivating them. Shake it off. Bring Him your alabaster box!

We have two examples in Matthew 26, we can worship the Lord, with abandon, without reserve, in a very insensible fashion, we can choose to PARTICIPATE in the worthy worship of The King of our heart!

Or we can be the observer, cynical, unfulfilled, empty, and because we are empty, we are jealous and disgusted and we refuse to participate. It will make us destructive. Destroying what other people build. Judas. It’s the difference between participating and observing.

In the Church today, in the Body of Christ, choose to be the Woman with the Alabaster Box!

Red is the Blood He shed for me ♥️

May His GIFT that sets us free be more real to you than ever before this Resurrection Weekend.

Love, Peach.

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bible choices Encouragement faith family forgiveness Gratitude Life Love memories parents Relationships remembrence thankful thought patterns thoughts

Choices

“…I PLEAD WITH YOU TO WALK holy, IN A WAY THAT IS SUITABLE TO YOUR HIGH RANK, given to you in your divine calling. WITH TENDER HUMILITY AND QUIET PATIENCE ALWAYS DEMONSTRATE GENTLENESS AND GENEROUS LOVE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER, especially toward those who may try your patience. BE FAITHFUL TO GUARD THE SWEET HARMONY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AMONG YOU in the bonds of peace…” — Ephesians 4:1b-3

Peach says:

A wise woman who I miss very much, taught me when I was very young, that when we become elderly, and are at or near the finish line, we can at times, become sort of caricatures of ourselves, depending on the choices we make in our lives.

Sometimes, as the end is in sight, we may not have all the strength of our reasoning in its normal state. Our reasoning, or our governing of ourselves, I should say, may be a bit relaxed or off balance from in our younger days.

Whatever we have fed in our lives may end up holding the larger sway. All the more reason to each day, walk in the Spirit, because when we do, then we do not “fulfill the lusts of the flesh”, Galatians 5:16b, as each decision makes a path in our heart and in our mind. The Word tells us, to not to be “conformed to this world” but instead to be “transformed by the renewing” of our mind (Romans 12:2).

The wise woman I knew, she worked in healthcare, and had seen a lot of this latter stage of life for people, who were not feeling themselves. It was a cautionary tale for sure.

I guess I have had some cause to think about the culmination of the daily little choices we make, and what those choices do to us in the inside of us, the most real part of us. Those things we choose to think about, and either appreciate or fester over. I don’t want to be one who festers. I want to be one who appreciates. The sunshine, my husband, our good health, our children and grandchildren, our siblings, that we have had good parents, greatest of all our salvation and relationship with Jesus!

I don’t want to waste time on the real (hurts) or imagined (worries). I want to process them, somewhat like laundry, learn from them, forgive myself or others, give it to Jesus, move on. —“Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, [once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully.” — 1 Peter 5:7

I know some hurts are monumental, and it’s easy to say. “But, you don’t know how badly they have hurt me” and to that, I say you are right. But, I also know you deserve to live and love, and enjoy what is here right now. Don’t let them rob you, not one more day. Not one more minute.

“Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this ONE THING I do, FORGETTING THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEHIND, and REACHING FORTH unto THOSE THINGS WHICH ARE BEFORE, I PRESS TOWARD THE MARK for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus” — Philippians 3:13-14

Love either near (those in your now circle) or from afar (those in your past), pray for them all, every day, but that doesn’t mean they get to sit in prime real estate in your head carving their initials. Evict them from your heart, as well as the well rehearsed pain.

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are TRUE, whatsoever things are HONEST, whatsoever things are JUST, whatsoever things are PURE, whatsoever things are LOVELY, whatsoever things are of GOOD REPORT; if there be any VIRTUE, and if there be ANY PRAISE, THINK ON THESE THINGS.” — Philippians 4:8

Remember, our Father God sees our end from our beginning (Isaiah 46:10) He has good for us, if we will accompany Him to the future He has yet ahead for us!

“ This is what the Lord says: “You will be in Babylon for seventy years. BUT THEN I WILL COME TO YOU AND DO FOR YOU ALL THE GOOD THINGS I HAVE PROMISED, and I will bring you home again. For I KNOW THE PLANS I HAVE FOR YOU,” says the Lord. “They are PLANS FOR GOOD AND NOT FOR DISASTER, TO GIVE YOU A FUTURE AND A HOPE. In those days when you pray, I will listen. IF YOU LOOK FOR ME WHOLEHEARTEDLY, YOU WILL FIND ME. I WILL BE FOUND BY YOU,” says the Lord. “I WILL end your captivity and RESTORE YOUR FORTUNES.” — Jeremiah 29:10-14

What inspired this? The passing of time, the loss of relationships, the finality of the passing of a good and precious life and the vacuum that has made. The choices we who remain make now, to hopefully live leaving a trail of love, hope, joy, affirmation, faith, and much grace, for our loved ones to follow. May our trail be clear, filled with good things to help them along their way!! — “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 11:1

Thank you for stopping in!! It means so much to share these thoughts in hopes it might encourage you along your way!!

I leave you with the closing of a favorite poem of mine, by Robert Frost, who I so enjoy!

“Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.”

Love, Peach

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children country music Faith family food grandchildren Gratitude Life Marriage parents remembrence sugar boogars teaching thankful trials

Remembrance

“And that thou mayest tell in the ears of thy son, and of thy son’s son, what things I have wrought in Egypt, and my signs which I have done among them; that ye may know how that I am the Lord.” — Exodus 10:2.

Peach says:

Hey, Everybody! How’s things goin’?

It’s goin’ good here!

I think I mentioned our youngest is getting married and they have a precious baby on the way! We couldn’t be more excited for them! 🤗

Our oldest and his wife are now also expecting. We just can’t wait to meet the new baby! 🥰

I’ve noticed something, I’ve turned into that parent who is telling stories to the younger generation that explain some things we went through and illustrate the faithfulness of God. I have never minded my parents doing it, nor when I was a youngun’ did I ever mind hearing my Granddad’s stories either.

But, it has not been my nature to tell those stories, put us in the spotlight so to speak.

But, all of a sudden I have realized it’s a blessing to them to know the things we overcame and God brought us through, in spite of ourselves, it can give them both a point of reference and encouragement that they too can make it. And further, since the Father helped us two when we were young and dumb, He’s ‘no respecter of persons’ and what He did for us, He’ll do for them!

Every get together I find myself working old stories, nobody’s ever heard, right into the conversation. Unashamedly. I keep it light and lively, but it’s good things I want them to know. It’s part of their roots and heritage and where they come from, too!

It will also help them recognize their stories as they’re happening so they can tell their children, too!

When we are young, life is such a mystery in so many ways, and we are sort of wobbling along, doing the best we can. Over the years are a lot of missteps and mistakes. I truly think the things I learned from my parents allllll of my life about their life, was helpful to me to keep my equilibrium!

I am hopeful to do the same for ours, though maybe I wish I had started sooner. I will have to trust in the Lord that He has gone before us and ordered our steps.

The picture above is a FANTASTIC potato salad recipe, that I got from my best friend, (without whom I probably would not have gotten saved). And she got it from a dear lady who she not only grew up with and grew up in church with, but was her mother in law for many years, and still family! Because family never ends! It may change but it never ends.

Mrs ‘P”s Potato Salad has won people and their taste buds over for years and years, through many special occasions! She will live on and stories of her family’s goodness to us, (and that includes my best friend) will be told in my family for years to come, Good Lord willing and the creek don’t rise!

“Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God is one Lord [the only Lord].

And you shall love the Lord your God with all your [mind and] heart and with your entire being and with all your might.

And these words which I am commanding you this day shall be [first] in your [own] minds and hearts; [then]

You shall whet and sharpen them so as to make them penetrate, and teach and impress them diligently upon the [minds and] hearts of your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down and when you rise up.” — Deuteronomy 6:4-7

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bible coffee cold weather Life Mustard on my Collar rain thankful Uncategorized writing

Jumbled Thoughts

Batman Says:

Been plotting and contemplating but have come up with no real plan yet. Sometimes, more often than not, that’s how most things I do get their start. I’ll be sitting around and “poof” some errant thought intrudes on my peace and I’m off to the races to do something even if I’m not sure what it is or how to accomplish it. Posts are like that too a lot with me, there are few, very few that are planned and well thought out, most just seem to “happen” from squirrels that run past in my head. Today it’s a jumbled mess of ideas that keep flitting past but nothing seems to stick. Peach made an AWESOME breakfast (she always does, but this was awesomer than normal) scrambled eggs, bacon, toast with apple butter, followed by coffee of course 😬.

Went to town and got supplies, salt for the water softener, ac filter, potting soil just simple things to keep the homestead up and running. Gonna have to replace AC this year don’t think this one has another summer in it, it’s ancient for AC units. Lowe’s, great that they give veterans discounts, now if they can hire workers that want to help customers, example “can you tell me which isle the water softener salt is on?” “Good luck, Florida is under a salt shortage”. This my friends is “horse feathers” (being polite, I won’t use bad words), there have been salt shortages all over I know, but have not heard of any in Florida, especially while he was “answering” my question with horse feathers, ace hardware was on the phone with Peach and they had loads. Went to Ace later and there were pallets on pallets of the stuff. If you’re going to make stuff up, come up with a better story, how about the “truth?!” Maybe Lowe’s is having a hard time getting salt but that doesn’t mean everyone is. Anywho (yep there’s that made up word again) we got what we needed and made it home without too much delay, and we are all set.

Fast forward a couple hours and here I am out on the deck grilling steaks, nothing better have I found than steaks done right on the grill with sweet “taters” slathered in butter and fork tender, don’t that look purdy?

And now, here I am a short while later after eating a superb meal at home with my Peach, flaked out in my favorite recliner (Peach bought me) poking at the keys on my phone keyboard trying to finish a post that I hope at least someone finds interesting.

First day of spring, I’m laughing you just can’t see it I swear, I mean it’s colder here now than it has been for most of the latter part of “winter”.

Getting a new television Thursday it’s time to replace this one, it works ok just can’t add external speakers and the sound isn’t the best. Ordered me some new hiking boots as mine are worn out, not that I hike but I do an awful lot of wandering around and stuff taking pictures and hunting among other things. I ordered them to keep Peach from doing so, she’s always getting me stuff and won’t get herself any and she needs them just as much as I do.

Peach has been putting out more podcasts y’all stop by MustardOnMyCollar.com and you can listen to them and learn good stuff. You really don’t want to miss hearing her make the Bible clear and understandable without changing the meaning, or listening to naysayers who think they know better what God is telling her say. If God puts it your heart to tell others, you tell it like He says not like you think He means. Oh yeah, you can find it on Spotify and Stitcher also same thing Mustard on my Collar. I don’t think that you will be disappointed, if you give the episodes a listen, they are short and Peach has a lovely voice.

Made us coffee a bit ago and we are sitting round drinking it, I’m working on this post, Peach is working on this weeks podcast, and we are just relaxing, windows open letting the cold 52.9f air blow the staleness out of the house, I love the fresh air and what it does, but don’t think for one second that I’m not wearing my Batman sweats and am wrapped up in my blanket…Batman hates anything below 70.0 and will always bundle up.

Y’all gotta try NightSky and SkyView apps they are free and they are so much fun looking at the stars and stuff with. God stuck some amazing things up there for us to ponder over didn’t he? Stars, galaxies, comets, asteroids, all kinds of colors and shapes it’s cool to see.

What a wonderful day and night I’ve had with Peach, just being ourselves and goofin off, could not ask for more, I don’t think. Tomorrow is another day and the only thing I know I have to do is clean the fish tank. Funny how with a saltwater aquarium if you blink, algae starts and it’s so hard to keep up with. But it is something we gotta do from time to time to keep the fish and critters happy and healthy.

I believe I may attempt grass cutting tomorrow but not sure, may have to put it off till next weekend. I’m good at procrastinating grass cutting duty.

Welp tomorrow is here and naw I don’t have to procrastinate, it’s cold and wet out there, neither are good for grass cutting.

Anyways, enough rambling about, things to do maybe, or better yet, since it is Sunday nothing to do but get in the word a bit and learn, y’all have a nice day.

“I smell yummy bacon and coffee again Peach”

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bible children grace grandchildren Gratitude Life Music Mustard on my Collar parents podcasts writing

Hopeful

“Return to the stronghold [of security and prosperity], you prisoners of hope; even today do I declare that I will restore double your former prosperity to you.” — Zechariah 9:12.

Peach says:

Hi, old friend!! It’s been too long!! I think about writing here every day! We have imaginary conversations! I couldn’t settle for an imaginary one today!

How is life treating you lately? Drop me a note and I’ll pray for you like we have been friends for life!

It’s definitely a new season. We are looking forward to Jerry’s retirement. We are thinking of present and future endeavors. Still looking at campers, hoping and trusting we choose ‘the right one’! We are both writing more, but neither of us maybe writing quite as much as we want, but we are definitely more focused and making good progress at learning to adapt and juggle. Remember we have a new grandbaby on the way from the youngest son and his fiancé? Well, we found out that our oldest son and his wife are now also expecting! We just are amazed!! So, that’s number 6 and number 7 on the way!!

“Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” — Psalm 127:3

I’m kinda baby crazy right now!! 🥰👶🥰

In many ways everything is the same as last year, yet everything feels and seems different! We learned a lot. We have made decisions and taken actions a lot. Processes of time brought some things to completion, some things to fruition, and the Lord has just blessed us. I’m of a mindset we are never without His blessing once we give ourselves to Him, but some seasons are definitely sweeter than others, though all He WILL cause to work out to our good because we love Him and are called unto His purposes. All in His time.

Right now, I feel content in pursuing a path that helps us be ready for our future, while also working as much as I know how, to be useful in telling the good news of Who I know Him to be.

Also s’mores! Lol! I have discovered I really like s’mores! They make a great dessert! I’m just saying!

Been studying a bit for this next podcast, number 5. The number of GRACE! It’s about The Blessing of God on us His people, how important it is to Him for us to have it, know it, and understand it, walk in it. And what (or whom) He has blessed cannot be cursed.

I get hopeful every time I think of someone accidentally tripping across our podcast blog, or on Spotify or Stitcher, and learning, breathing in knowledge of the goodness of God, from a regular girl who isn’t an ‘influencer’ by today’s standards, but is an ambassador by His standards, just a Christ follower, a lover of family, and maybe s’mores! 🤣🤣 Somebody who runs to work, walks the dogs, gets groceries, cooks dinner, does laundry. Takes 4 insulin shots a day, and gets up and does it all again tomorrow, just like them! I’m hoping it will be enlightening and uplifting, shining a light from Him on their path!

I pray this next week, your hope is strengthened in all number of ways. That you will find courage to take at least a baby step forward every day! “Return you to the stronghold, you prisoners of hope!”

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Jump

Peach says:

“And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.” — 2 Kings 13:18

Batman and I tussled with another podcast and have it up on the Mustard on My Collar blog site, as well as Spotify and Stitcher. We are still waiting for approval from iTunes, but we are hoping soon to hear good news from them as well!

Before you go click, here are a few tidbits or food for thought, to get your wheels turning! 👇🏻👇🏻

Some definitions of ‘jump‘ (sooooooo manyyyyyy good ones, this is just a few! Feel free to peruse the link to the dictionary site! “:to move suddenly or involuntarily : START

c: to move energetically : HUSTLE
d: to start out or forward : BEGIN—usually used with offjump off to a big lead
e: to move over a position occupied by an opponent’s piece in a board game often thereby capturing the piece” — from Merriam Webster on line.
And a small excerpt from Van Halen’s ‘Jump’: “You say you don’t know
You won’t know until you begin, Might as well Jump”.

Here’s a link to “Jump” which I hope will be something that inspires and/encourages others to join me in taking the Lord, at His Word! His Wonderful, Marvelous, Word!

Happy Valentine’s Day, Y’all! Show some love to somebody today!! ❤️

Thank you for stopping by!! God bless!!

Categories
bible faith Life Mustard Mustard on my Collar podcasts thankful Uncategorized writing

Mustard on my Collar

Batman says:

Mornin y’all,

Today is a great day, we finally got Peach’s podcast started. That’s right, I’ve harped and nagged and muttered and mumbled and she finally recorded one, the introduction to a series where Peach hopes to make a community of God fearing people, feel welcome and possible learn some things in the Bible. The podcast is on Stitcher and Spotify and we are trying to get it on Apple podcasts also.

This is a very first recording and you can tell Peach is a bit hesitant, but as it progresses she settles down and speaks easy and without hesitation about a subject she’s passionate on. I did my best to edit the audio so you all don’t laugh at my effort (my youngest son is the audio engineer not me) I think she sounds perfect when she gets going.

This is a learning experience for us as much as a teaching experience, we hope some will listen as the podcasts are put up, and someone who needs it gets something from them. I know in my heart that as Peach does more they will flow and give off valuable insight into the Bible and Gods word.

We welcome comments, critical (not demeaning) as well as encouraging ones, as we want to learn and give the information in a manner that’s easy to listen to and follow.

Y’all take a listen if you get time, they are never really long and we will post them on a more regular basis as we get in a rhythm. The podcast series is called:

“Mustard on my Collar”

You have to listen and you will see why, enjoy 😬

“There ya go Peach, cats outta the bag now”